Ladder.



S. HORNTHAL.

LADDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1916.

1 ,220, 3 37. Patented Mar; 27, 191?.

EARAHHEI NTHAL.

attoz we 1 J SARAH HOBNTHAL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Lamina.

Specification of Letters Patent? Patented Mar. 27, 1917.

Application filed larch 16,1916. Serial No. 84,507.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SARAH HoRNTHAL,'a citizen of the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in ladders and more particularly to a collapsible step ladder.

It is the object of this invention to provide a ladder with steps so connected to the sides of the ladder that the inner edges of the steps may be moved upward and the outer edges moved inward and downward to cause the steps to lie in the collapsed position in the same plane with the ladders side.

As the ladder when not in use may be collapsed into an article of very little thickness, it is of special advantage for use in places when economy ofspace is necessary, such as in sleeping cars, cabins of ships, bungalows, and the like. When used in connection with berths of sleeping cars or cabins, the ladder when not in use may be laid upon or under the mattress of the upper berth and occupy but little space.

While the preferred form of this invention is illustrated upon the accompanying sheet of drawing, yet it is to be understood that -minor detail changes may be made without departing from the scope thereof.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of this ladder in position to be used.

- Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation in the collapsed position.

Fig. 4 is a view in end elevation.

In carrying out this invention the steps 1 are slidably mounted between the sides 2 by pins or studs 3 at the rear of and upon the opposite sides of the steps engaging in grooves 4 upon the inner surfaces of the ladder sides and are held in open position at the rear by the pins or studs resting in the bottom of the grooves 4 and at the front by the links 5 pivoted to the forward sides of the step and inner surfaces of the ladder sides. By this construction the steps are firmly and positively supported in the open position and can only be collapsed by an upward movement of the rear of the steps, and upon such a movement the rear of the'steps will slide upward and the front swing downward upon its pivoted link until the steps he flat 1n the same plane as the ladder sides.

To open and close the steps operating rods 6 are provided pne on each exterior of each ladder side 2, pivotably :-connected by U- shaped brackets 7 to the front of each side of each step. In the collapsed position the operating rods lie exterior ofand in the same plane with the ladder sides. To open the ladder the rods are pulled outward which will, by their brackets being pivoted to the front of the side of the steps, cause the front of the step to swing outward until the studs have reached the bottom of the groove. In the open position the operating rods act as hand rails as they are above and to one side of the ladder sides and may be readily grasped in ascending the ladder. the ladder the operating rods are pushed inward toward the ladder sides which will cause'the rear of the steps to slide upward in the groove and cause the ladder to collapse.

What I claim is 1. In a collapsible ladder, ladder sides and steps therebetween, the rear of each-step ivotally and slidably engaging the la der sides, and pivotal connections upon the ladder sides supporting the front of the steps. v

2. In a collapsible ladder, ladder sides and steps therebetween, the rear of each step pivotally and slidably engaging the ladder sides, and a pivotal connection upon the ladder sides positively supporting the front of the steps and means to slide the rear of the steps upon the ladder sides.

3. In a step ladder, ladder sides, steps therebetween, studs upon the rear sides of the steps, grooves in the ladder sides slidably receiving said studs, links pivoted at one end to the front of the steps and at the other end to the ladder sides.

4. In a step ladder, ladder sides, steps therebetween, studs upon the rear sides of the steps, grooves in the ladder sides slidably receiving said studs, links pivoted at one end to the front'of the steps and at the other end to the ladder sides, and means to slide the steps in the grooves to'collapse the ladder.

5. In a step ladder, ladder sides, steps therebetween, studs upon the rear sides of the steps, grooves in the ladder sides slidably receiving said studs, links pivoted at one end to the front of the steps and at the To close ioo other end to the ladder sides, and operating to the ladder sides, operating rods upon the 10 rods upon the exterior of the ladder sides, exterior of the ladder sides, and U-shaped and connections between the steps and the brackets connected at one end to the rods rods pivoted to the rear of the step sides. and pivoted at the other end to the rear of 5 6. In a step ladder, ladder sides, Steps the step sides.

therebetween, studs upon the rear sides of SARAH HORNTI-IAL. the steps, grooves in the ladder sides slidably Witne$es: receiving said studs, links pivoted at one end M. Mona, to the front. of the steps and at the other end MAX 0. MEYER. 

